I never thought we’d be one of “those families” the ones with more than 2 dogs, but here we are with 4. Of course, all four of them together weigh about what one of our previous dogs would have weighed (I miss you Penny). The two Cairn Terriers, Brutus and Max (butterscotch colored) are full of personality and the other two, Iggy (short for Ignatius, thank you) Rufus are sweet and adorable strays. Now we just need to find a dog for our cat (angel de la muerte) and we will all be set!

— 2 —

I’m almost finished with my Master’s in Bioethics and Health Policy, one short 8 week course this summer and then a thesis. As the Wizard told the Scarecrow:
“From the rock-bound coast of Maine to the Sun…. oh – oh, no — — ah – Well, be that as it may. Back where I come from we have universities, seats of great learning – where men go to become great thinkers. And when they come out, they think deep thoughts — and with no more brains than you have…. But! They have one thing you haven’t got! A diploma!”

Most days I feel as if I have as much straw in my head as the Scarecrow has in his!

— 3 —

I wish there was a 24-hour a day Law and Order Channel….I know some channels come close (I’m looking at you TNT), but if there was a dedicated L&O Channel, I’d never leave my house. Oh…but not L&O SVU (which I call SUV). I hate that iteration.

— 4 —

I grew up in Florida, back in the day, shortly after Ponce de Leon left, with no air-conditioning. I distinctly remember when we got air-conditioning. So, why do I find it so difficult to not have the house temperature set at frigid? I don’t think that Texas is hotter than Florida.

— 5 —

I’m going to Boston for 6 days this summer for work. I grew up flying (Dad worked for Delta, uncle for United) but after working for a large metropolitan medical examiner’s office when a plane crashed, it took me a few years to get back on one, then 9-11. So, despite flying for work twice a year, I’m still trying to get myself back on planes without some pharmaceutical assistance.

— 6 —

We have hardwood floors and, as above, 4 dogs and a cat, so I do a lot of vacuuming. But I don’t have a regular vacuum: I use a Shop-Vac. The beauty of the big Shop-Vac is that it also sucks up small toy pieces (take that Legos!) , stray socks that fall under the bed or couch, and spiders.

— 7 —

If you would ask me what my favorite gift would be, I would answer “Office Depot” gift cards. I have some type of weird fetish that involves magnets, sticky tabs, and unusually colorful file folders.